Hilsha production doubled in last twelve years

Staff reporter :
Hilsha production had been double in the last twelve years, contributing 12.23 percent of total fish production and about 1.15pc of the total GDP in Bangladesh.
Nearly 600,000 people of Bangladesh are involved with catching Hilsha directly while 2-2.5 million people are involved with transporting, selling and other activities indirectly.
The production of hilsha increased to 5.21 lakh metric tonnes in 2021-22 fiscal year, while it was 2.98 lakh metric tonnes in 2008-09 FY.
S M Rezaul Karim Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) disclosed those information to the journalists while addressing the ongoing special combing operation started from January 4.
According to experts, government’s initiatives to increase the Hilsha production over the last several years played a significant role. As a result, Bangladesh produces nearly 90 per cent of the world’s Hilshas and continues to grow its share of the world’s aggregate Hilsha production.
India used to produce 25 per cent of the world’s total Hilsha being dropped by about 10 per cent in 2020 comparing with previous five years whereas in the same period Bangladesh jumped from 65 percent to 86 percent of the world’s total Hilsha.
Minister of Fisheries and Livestock said that the production of Hilsha in the country increased nearly 300,000 tons in last twelve years due to the strict management of our government including banning of jatka killing, campaign against illegal fishing nets.
Focusing on the success of Hilsha production in Bangladesh, the model developed by government agencies in the country is being followed by many countries of the world,he added.
S M Rezaul Karim has emphasized the effectiveness of special combing operation by his ministry to remove illegal fishing nets and said this drive is the most fruit-bearing step of the government to increase the natural fisheries production here.
Meanwhile, special combing operation started in 2016 aiming at removing all kinds of illegal nets that destroy fish resources including ‘behundi’ nets and current nets.
From forth January 2023, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock lunched the drive in mostly 12 costal districts including Patuakhali ,Barguna, Bhola, Barisal Chandpurand others .The thirty days operation has been divided in four phases and allocated Tk 37.5 crore to conduct the drive.